The U.S. Navy is facing backlash for posting a photo of the Japanese Rising Sun flag on its official social media accounts.
According to a recent report, the official U.S. Navy social media account featured a photo of two soldiers displaying the Rising Sun flag. The caption on the photo read, “The soldiers are holding the Rising Sun flag towards the U.S.S. George Washington as it leaves the naval base.” In response to this, Professor Seo Kyeong Duk of Sungshin Women’s University stated on May 11, “After receiving the report, I checked the US Navy’s social media account and found the controversial photo. Many people are pointing this out.”
Seo, who sent a protest email to the U.S. Navy, reminded them of Japan’s 1941 surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He asked pointedly, “Have you forgotten about the Pearl Harbor attack?”
Seo emphasized, “The Rising Sun flag has been used by the Japanese for various purposes such as fishing and childbirth, but it was the flag that Japan prominently displayed when it invaded various Asian countries in the past. It symbolizes Japanese militarism and imperialism.” He particularly pointed out, “The reuse of the Rising Sun flag is tantamount to denying the history of the aggressive war committed by Japan in the past, and it is an act that reminds Asians of the horrors of war and symbolizes fascism.”
Seo also revealed that he included a historical advertisement about the Pearl Harbor bombing, which he had previously published in the New York Times, and a video explaining the Rising Sun flag in the protest email.
People reacted with disbelief, expressing “I don’t understand why they are doing this when many US soldiers died fighting against Japan,” and “Doesn’t the US educate about history? How can they hold the Rising Sun flag in their hands?” “Have they forgotten how many soldiers were sacrificed and buried because of the Pearl Harbor attack, which led to the Pacific War?” and “American veterans who fought for their country would be furious.”